Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Soldier’s Medal

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    Major (Medical Service Corps)

    Division:

    XVIII Airborne Corps

    Action Date:

    June 27, 1956

    Department of the Army, General Orders No. 15 (May 2, 1958)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Soldier’s Medal to Major (Medical Service Corps) Harold A. Endler, United States Army, for heroism at the risk of life not involving conflict with an armed enemy while a member of the XVIII Airborne Corps, during a mass tactical exercise on 27 June 1956, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. When another jumper, whose parachute did not open, became enmeshed in Major Endler’s suspension lines, Major Endler took immediate command of the situation. Realizing that if the man deployed his reserve parachute within such close proximity it would possibly cause his own parachute to collapse, Major Endler instructed the jumper to grasp his suspension lines and the two descended safely to the ground on Major Endler’s parachute. The prompt and decisive action taken by Major Endler, with the full knowledge that the additional weight on his parachute was a risk to his own life, prevented a fatal jump. Major Endler’s heroic conduct and unselfish action were undoubtedly instrumental in saving a fellow paratrooper from serious injury or death, thereby reflecting the utmost credit upon himself and the military service.